Most flea infestations in the home stem from your pets, however it is possible to bring them in even if you don’t have animals in your home. These irritating pests can bite both humans and animals.
Fleas are a reddish-brown color, very thin, around an eighth of an inch long, and have big back legs. It is unlikely that you will be able to see them clearly without a microscope.
Adult fleas live on the fur of animals, which is where they tend to lay their eggs. The average life cycle of a flea is around 100 days, however they can live indoors for up to a year.
Four Life Stages of a Flea:
- Egg
- Larva
- Pupa
- Adult
4 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Fleas:
- Baking soda and vacuuming – sprinkle the fibers of your carpet with baking soda, then give it a scrub and then vacuum it up. Regular vacuuming of your carpet can help to keep the pests at bay. Make sure you pay close attention to the areas where pets sleep.
- Salt – like baking soda, salt works in a similar way. According to Rentokil, if you sprinkle some salt on to your carpets, leave for two days and then vacuum up, it can help to get rid of fleas. The salt acts as a dehydrating agent, and can naturally get rid of fleas without the use of chemicals.
- Wash all bedding in hot, soapy water – for mild infestations, you can wash your bed sheets in hot soapy water. The soap kills fleas, while destroying their eggs and larvae. You should vacuum your mattress and your pets bedding as well.
- Lemon spray – lemons are another all-natural way to remove the presence of fleas in the home due to their acidic nature.
How to make your own lemon solution:
- Cut a thin slice of lemon, place it in a pan, add boiling water, and let sit overnight
- The next morning, add the lemon-infused liquid into a spray bottle
- Spritz onto any flea-infested areas, such as carpets, sofas, pet beds or chairs. Only do a light spray, and do check against your fabrics beforehand. The strong scent will kill the fleas, and as a bonus will leave your home smelling fresh
You need to ensure that you use a powerful vacuum, this more suction power the better it will get up everything out your home. Some areas that you want to pay close attention to are floors, upholstery, mattresses, and hard-to-reach corners. Once you have finished vacuuming, remember to empty the bag or filter immediately into the garbage and take the bag out of the house.
A professional pest control company like Pest Exit is one of the quickest and best ways to eliminate fleas. We have the knowledge and resources to help you rid your home of fleas.
